Della Mae Smith Nelson of Ridgeway, Virginia, was welcomed by her Heavenly Father on August 12, 2020 at the age of 91. She and her husband, Tommie Nelson, shared 69 years of marriage together.

A private funeral service will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2020.  Della will be laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in Eden.

Born in Eden, North Carolina, on March 1, 1929, she was the daughter of Thomas Daniel Smith and Della Eunice Smith, both deceased. After over 30 years of service in spinneret, Della retired from DuPont in 1984.

Della was a member of Highland Baptist Church in Ridgeway, Virginia. She enjoyed reading her Bible daily, traveling the country with siblings, bird watching, playing card games with friends, and opening her home for family gatherings. Della will be remembered for embodying the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Della is survived by her husband, Tommie Nelson (Ridgeway, VA); son, Jerry Nelson (Murrells Inlet, SC); daughter, JaRonn Nelson (Ridgeway, VA); sisters, Sylvia Smith (Eden, NC) and Helen Overby (Flint, MI); grandchildren Julie, Josh, Ashlee, Will, Keri, Katie, and Chelsea; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents Della was preceded in death by her brothers, Melvin Smith and Calvin Smith (both of Eden, NC); sister, Laura Overby (Flint, MI); and daughter, Merrie Jill Kipfinger (Ridgeway, VA).